Bye to that US scholarship dream

Maybe I just needed this confirmation before fully surrendering my dream of being accepted to a US University for the Global UGRAD Scholarship for school year 2011-2012. I already foresaw that this will happen but I did not prepare myself much for this moment. Maybe, I just made my self so much excited for my flight bound to US not anticipating the defeat as I download the scholarship form from the e-mail of my professor, Ma'am Data Canlas. Now I just hope that things will go to normal, as for me who was excited for over a month just to see the results.

Yes, I got a non-acceptance letter from Fulbright. But thinking that I was able to reach the interview part, I am still blessed to be chosen from hundreds of aspirants who submitted their application form. I just found the result through a text message from my dad hours ago because they already received the letter at home. Here's his full text message:

Good pm son, natanggap na namin yung result ng exam mo sa Fulbright, at, you were not selected for a grant under 2011-2012. But according to the letter, you can re-apply. Your application will be considered, as before, solely on the basis of the merit of your proposal.

Now I know my dad is also upset, even my family, friends, and professors who were really hopeful that I make it to the US. Maybe I was not that good enough during the application process particularly during the interview phase wherein I committed a major mistake which I wish not to disclose herein. I just told my dad  that I would rather focus on my academics and strive harder to maintain my honor standing.

On the other hand, I am happy because if given the opportunity to stay in the US for a year because of the scholarship, I will not be able to see my family for a year, and God knows how painful that would be for me. If God has plans and reasons for everything, what might be the reason why I was not accepted to this scholarship? Maybe, which I am now anticipating, a bigger surprise awaits me.

To be accepted or rejected

Fulbright will send the acceptance/rejection letters today for Global UGRAD, according to the one I talked to yesterday from their office. I am so nervous yet excited to receive the letters! *crossed fingers.

Interview later, I am so excited yet nervous

That is the longest title I have ever had in this blog site.
I am so excited yet nervous, yes. Actually I do not know what to do now.
Will I now take a bath and prepare for this afternoon's major-major interview?
I am also anxious knowing that this will be a once-in-an-undergrad-life experience.

Even though I really do not know what to do now, one thing is for sure, I will not let the hope of my family and relatives turn into nothing. I will make them really really proud. I love them so much.

This scholarship is not only a passport for an education abroad, but this will also be a key for some of the family wounds to heal. I need your prayers for me to have confidence to face the panel and also for me to have the right answers to their questions.


Bring it on, Fulbright!

A week before THE BIG DAY

Yes I am nervous for my interview. This ain't my first "real-world interview" but hey my future really depends on it, literally and figuratively. What made me more nervous today is the fact that I now know who my competitors are, at least in my college and in my department. We are six in our department who applied though I am not yet sure if all were sent an invitation for the interview, but I am sure we will all be in the interview phase. So, it is a week before now, and what is left for me to do aside from thinking about my academic assignments is the fact that I am not yet physically prepared for it! :) This point might be useless but hey it is part of the preparation stuff most people would do just to present their selves properly.

I am asking, from the bottom of my heart, for your favor to please do pray for me to be granted with the 2011 Fulbright Global UGRAD Exchange Program. I will die if I will not make it, seriously. All my hopes and academic career plans are now based herein. So please, include me in your prayers. I will really appreciate it. Super thanks!

Why I like New Media Studies

This is my research interest, as of now. I know I will love this as long as I love the internet and the web.
I just talked with my professor in BC 148  (Interactive Broadcasting class which I took last semester) and Comm 150 (Internet and New Media Culture class which I am currently am taking this semester) Professor Data Canlas.

She introduced me to a lot of interesting ideas regarding the internet and the World Wide Web last semester in our BC 148 class, and for now, she still continuous to share her knowledge about the online media to class. Today, as our class ended, I got to talk to her one-to-one regarding her research interest which I am also interested in.Though in our conversation, I drew what differs my research  topic from hers. She is into the convergence of the new media and the mobile phones and the social effects thereof; while my topic interest is on participative new media.

Even last semester in our BC 148, Ma'am Data inspired me to be involved actively in the cyberspace because it is not being studied on and the scholarly papers at the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication are mostly focused on the mainstream media. I learned from our conversation that researches on the internet are focused more on the commercial side of it. She mentioned famous individuals online such as the Internet Marketing Consultant Mr. Carlo Ople and the Blogger Ms. Janette Toral.

This interview is connected to my interview in Fulbright Global UGRAD Exchange Scholarship scheduled next week, on the first day of December! And I am so excited yet anxious about it so I am into researching more about the stuff that I needed to clarify- if any, regarding my dossier.

I am praying that I will be chosen as one of the grantees of this scholarship because I want to learn more and acquire a broad perspective regarding this body of knowledge which is I believe available at the United States  of America and is only limited here in the Philippines with the reasons I mentioned above herein. I also wanted to share whatever knowledge that I will acquire in the scholarship program to the Filipino people and to the Philippine media.